Cost Databases & Resources Flashcards

Which RS Means cost data line item component represents the cost of labor, material, and equipment combined for a specific task?

Answer: Bare cost

Bare cost in RS Means represents the direct cost of labor, material, and equipment without overhead and profit markups.

The BNi Building News cost database is primarily organized by which format?

Answer: MasterFormat divisions

BNi Building News cost data is organized using CSI MasterFormat divisions, consistent with industry-standard specification structure.

When using Gordian's RSMeans City Cost Index (CCI), a value below 100 for a location indicates what?

Answer: Costs are lower than the national average

A CCI value below 100 means that local costs are lower than the national average, which is indexed at 100.

Which cost database is specifically designed for heavy civil and infrastructure construction estimating?

Answer: RS Means Heavy Construction

RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data is specifically tailored for highway, bridge, underground utilities, and heavy civil work.

In the Craftsman National Construction Estimator, labor costs are typically expressed using which wage basis?

Answer: Open-shop average wages

Craftsman's National Construction Estimator primarily uses open-shop (non-union) average wage rates for its labor cost data.

What is the primary advantage of using square-foot cost estimating guides like those published by Marshall & Swift?

Answer: They allow rapid preliminary cost assessments

Square-foot estimating guides enable quick preliminary (order-of-magnitude) cost assessments early in the design process when detailed information is unavailable.

Which organization publishes the 'Construction Cost Indices' used to track inflation and cost trends in the construction industry?

Answer: Engineering News-Record (ENR)

Engineering News-Record (ENR) publishes widely-used construction cost indices including the Building Cost Index (BCI) and Construction Cost Index (CCI).